Annapolis has lots of small shops and restaurants that add to the quaintness of this harbor town.  And what a better way to enjoy the charm of Annapolis than by relaxing in a luxury hotel?  West Kitchen & Tavern is a "scratch" kitchen located in the Lowes hotel, offering a wide selection of delicacies celebrating the Chesapeake flavor that has made the area famous.  Using only fresh, local ingredients, they offer a wide variety of plates that you can share or keep all to yourself.  And what Chesapeake menu isn't complete without crab cakes?  Continue on to find out how they turned out!

If you've ever spent any time driving on I-95 in NE MD, you may have noticed a large crab on one of those restaurant exit signs. That sign would be for Woody's Crab House, located in, you guessed it, North East, MD. Woody's Crab House serves up Chesapeake cuisine in a casual environment, specializing in steamed crabs and crab cakes. And after a tour of their website, it would seem that they also organize vacation tours (if only there was a real Old Bay Beach...). So while crabs weren't fully in season when we were at Woody's, they still had plenty of crab cakes available. Are they good enough to stake their reputation on? Read along and see what we thought!

Ze Mean Bean Café started out as just a coffee house back in 1995, serving light fare and traditional Eastern European cuisine, alongside desserts, coffee, and tea. Since then, they have expanded into a full-service wine and dining destination. In the land of pierogies, galumpkies, and kielbasa, you wouldn't expect to find a crab cake. But this is Bawlmer, hon! Crab cakes are everywhere, and it's always fun finding them in unexpected places. Read on to find out how the Eastern European take on our beloved crab cake was!